Journal of Animal Science, Vol 74, Issue 6 1349-1357, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effect of enzyme preparations on in situ and in vitro degradation and in vivo digestive characteristics of mature cool-season grass forage in beef steers

P. Feng, C. W. Hunt, G. T. Pritchard and W. E. Julien
Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844, USA.

In situ and in vitro studies with a 3 x 2 x 5 factorial arrangement of treatments with an added untreated control evaluated three enzyme preparations, two levels of enzyme, and five moisture conditions of grass forage. Enzyme preparations predominantly contained cellulase and xylanase and will be designated as enzyme 1 (E1), enzyme 2 (E2), and a 50:50 combination of E1 and E2 (E1E2). The five moisture conditions included fresh, wilted, dried and rehydrated to fresh, dried and rehydrated to wilt, and dried grass. Addition of the high level of E1E2 to dried grass improved (P < .05) in vitro DM (43.5 vs 38.7%) and NDF (31.1 vs 26.0%) disappearance (48 h incubation) compared with the control treatment. Also, IVDMD was greater (P < .05) for the low level of E1 applied to wilted grass compared with the control. No other enzyme application improved in situ or in vitro disappearance of substrate over the control. In vivo responses of enzyme treatments found most likely to be effective from degradability studies were measured using four ruminally cannulated steers in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment. Treatments examined were E1 applied to fresh forage, then dried; E1 applied to wilted forage, then dried; E1E2 applied to dry forage immediately before feeding (E-dry), and untreated forage (control). All forage treatments were harvested as dry hay. Total diet and hay DM intakes were greater (P < .05) for the E-dry than for the control diet. Rate of in situ NDF disappearance and total tract DM and NDF digestibility were greater (P < .05) for the E-dry than for the other treatments. Ruminal fluid ammonia N concentration, total VFA concentration, and pH were not altered (P > .10) by dietary treatment. Ruminal particulate passage rate was greater (P < .05) and ruminal retention time was shorter (P < .05) for the E-dry than for the control treatment. Data from this study suggest that addition of fibrolytic enzymes to grass hay before feeding has the potential to enhance intake and digestion.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. X. Tang, G. O. Tayo, Z. L. Tan, Z. H. Sun, L. X. Shen, C. S. Zhou, W. J. Xiao, G. P. Ren, X. F. Han, and S. B. Shen Effects of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme supplementation on in vitro fermentation characteristics of low-quality cereal straws J Anim Sci, May 1, 2008; 86(5): 1164 - 1172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Krueger, A. T. Adesogan, C. R. Staples, W. K. Krueger, S. C. Kim, R. C. Littell, and L. E. Sollenberger Effect of method of applying fibrolytic enzymes or ammonia to Bermudagrass hay on feed intake, digestion, and growth of beef steers J Anim Sci, April 1, 2008; 86(4): 882 - 889. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Elwakeel, E. C. Titgemeyer, B. J. Johnson, C. K. Armendariz, and J. E. Shirley Fibrolytic Enzymes to Increase the Nutritive Value of Dairy Feedstuffs J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2007; 90(11): 5226 - 5236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Wang, B. M. Spratling, D. R. ZoBell, R. D. Wiedmeier, and T. A. McAllister Effect of alkali pretreatment of wheat straw on the efficacy of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(1): 198 - 208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Colombatto, G. Hervas, W. Z. Yang, and K. A. Beauchemin Effects of enzyme supplementation of a total mixed ration on microbial fermentation in continuous culture, maintained at high and low pH J Anim Sci, October 1, 2003; 81(10): 2617 - 2627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Beauchemin, D. Colombatto, D. P. Morgavi, and W. Z. Yang Use of Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes to Improve Feed Utilization by Ruminants J Anim Sci, February 1, 2003; 81(14_suppl_2): E37 - 47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. R. Bowman, K. A. Beauchemin, and J. A. Shelford The Proportion of the Diet to which Fibrolytic Enzymes are Added Affects Nutrient Digestion by Lactating Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2002; 85(12): 3420 - 3429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Pinos-Rodriguez, S. S. Gonzalez, G. D. Mendoza, R. Barcena, M. A. Cobos, A. Hernandez, and M. E. Ortega Effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on ruminal fermentation and digestibility of alfalfa and rye-grass hay fed to lambs J Anim Sci, November 1, 2002; 80(11): 3016 - 3020. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T M O'Connor, J F Bourke, M Jones, and N Brennan Report of occupational asthma due to phytase and {beta}-glucanase Occup. Environ. Med., June 1, 2001; 58(6): 417 - 419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]